Lusty Month of May Lyrics – Camelot

Song Overview

Song Credits

• Producer: Goddard Lieberson
• Writers: Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe
• Vocals: Julie Andrews
• Recorded At: CBS 30th Street Studio
• Album: A Little Bit of Broadway / Camelot (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
• Release Date: 1960-12-12
• Genre: Broadway, Musicals

Song Meaning and Annotations

“The Lusty Month of May” is the flirtiest celebration of moral mayhem ever to spring from a Broadway stage. Sung by Julie Andrews as Queen Guenevere in Camelot, it’s a medieval call for seasonal rebellion — one musical "tra la" away from becoming an Elizabethan Vegas weekend.

The month of May, here, is more than a page on the calendar — it’s a euphemism in full bloom. Guenevere’s ode to mischief and merriment turns the once-pure pastoral into a time of sanctioned chaos. “That darling month when everyone throws self-control away,” she sings, with the wink of someone who knows just how persuasive springtime can be.

Amid all the dancing and floral frenzy, there's sly social commentary: the fragility of moral pretensions, the collective thirst for playful transgression, and perhaps a little sarcasm about Arthurian piety.

It’s mad, it’s gay, a libelous display / Those dreary vows that everyone takes / Everyone breaks

This isn’t just a frolic — it’s a gentle critique. It pokes fun at the very idea that vows are steadfast, that love is pure, that people behave “properly” once the flowers bloom and the hormones gallop.

And let’s not forget the subtext — Guenevere herself is no angel in the coming acts. Her joyride through May is tinged with foreshadowing. This song’s sugary shell hides the fruit of later infidelity and heartache.

Similar Songs

1. "June Is Bustin’ Out All Over" from Carousel — Another effusive seasonal anthem, ripe with folk festivity and innuendo. Both songs exude fertility and chaos cloaked in Broadway cheer.
2. "I Enjoy Being a Girl" from Flower Drum Song — Like Guenevere’s ode, it’s light on the surface but loaded with commentary on gender roles and cultural expectations.
3. "Another Op’nin’, Another Show" from Kiss Me, Kate — Brimming with theatrical excitement and life-about-to-happen vibes, this number also dances on the edge of tradition and impulse.

Questions and Answers

What is the “lusty” part of “The Lusty Month of May” referring to?

It’s a cheeky reference to springtime libido, both literal and metaphorical — desire, freedom, and the breaking of social norms that bloom with the flowers.

Why is this song important in Camelot?

It gives insight into Guenevere’s playful, rebellious nature and foreshadows the emotional entanglements that will unravel the court. It’s the calm — and chaos — before the storm.

Was “The Lusty Month of May” controversial?

Not explicitly, but it’s brimming with subtle subversion. For 1960 Broadway, it was a slyly progressive number, veiled in pageantry but full of flirtation.

What makes Julie Andrews' version iconic?

Her crisp articulation and regal glee strike the perfect balance between innocence and insinuation. She makes mischief sound like royal duty.

Why do audiences still love this song?

Because it's fun, flirtatious, and a reminder that even queens want to misbehave in the spring. It celebrates impulse in a world of obligation.

Fan and Media Reactions

"Julie Andrews makes mischief sound elegant. Nobody else could Tra La that innocently."

"This song is how spring should feel: unbuttoned and slightly scandalous."

"It’s basically the musical version of a flower crown and a flirt."

"Even the birds and bees blushed when they heard this number."

"Guenevere might be the original party girl of the Round Table, and this is her anthem."